Numbering machine



Dec. 4, 1934. P. AITCHI SON NUMBERING MACHINE Filed Aug. 8, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY Dec. 4, 1934. P. AITCHISON NUMBERING MACHINE Filed Aug. 8, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 4, 1934.

P. AITCHISON NUMBERING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Shet 5 Filed Aug. 8, 1933 INVE TOR Patented Dec. 4, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,983,012 NUMBERING MACHINE Application August 8, 1933, Serial No. 684,281 10 Claims. (Cl. 101-76) My invention relates to numbering machines, and more particularly to machines of this type embodying. therein a rotary perforating mechanism so constructed and arranged as to permit the finishing operations in certain negotiable or other documents to besimultaneously performed.

Inv the production of stocks, bonds and other negotiable documents, after the making of the engraved impressions thereon and the re-finishingof the paper, such documents require the impression of numbers thereon and the perforation of the sheet to provide a document which is readily separable from a stub bearing the records as to the issuance or transfer of the main certificate or document.

Prior to my invention, the practice was to impress the numbers upon the sheet and to perforate same by different operations. This practice not only entailed one additional handling of the sheets, but increased the possible losses, through wastage, due to an improper handling of the sheet. or. an imperfect operation of the perforating machine when acting upon a single sheet at atime.

In order to effect a saving in the cost of production of such stock certificates or other documents, by avoidance of such wastage, I have provided a machine wherein previously printed sheets may be successively numbered and perforated,

the gripper mechanism upon the platen cylinder of the numbering machine being operative to ensure accuracy in the positioning of vthe sheets in relation to the perforator mechanism. It is merelynecessary that the feederaccurately po- 5 sition the sheets when delivering them to the members of the printing couple, this accuracy being maintained until a sheet is delivered completely finished.

In the machine of the invention, I utilize end- 40 less tapes for effecting the transfer of the'sheets from the impression cylinder to the perforator mechanism, these tapes being utilized during the perforating operation to'maintain the sheets in a fixed relation to the perforator punches so as to avoid any-possibility of such shifting of the sheets or such raising of the sheets in relation to the female punch dies by the rotary movement of the male dies as will cause the mutilation of the sheets by these punches.

The construction and arrangement of parts is such that the numbered and perforated sheets may be deliveredto a collecting shelf directly fromthe rotary perforators, the tapes above' referred to assisting in this delivery operation. 5 A numbering machine is operated at highspeeds as compared with the ordinaryperforating machine, and in the machine of the invention, it is possible to operate the perforating mechanism at aspeed commensurate with that of the-customary speed of the members of the printing couple of the numbering machine and thus secure a high output during the finishing operation.

The invention consists primarily in a numbering machine embodying therein a printing couple consisting of a numbering head cylinder, and an impression cylinder, parallel shafts adjacent the members of said printing couple, one of said shafts having thereon a circular female perforating die, and the other shaft having a circular male perforating die co-operating with said female die, sheet receiving means. adjacent said perforating dies, an endless tape'passing, about said impression cylinder and over said female perforating die, and guiderollers for said tapes positioned beyond said perforating dies, whereby a sheet of paper is causedto pass from said dies to said sheet receiving means and is held against said female perforating die during theperforating operation; and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth-and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig.- 1 is a side view of a numbering machine embodying the invention;

, Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the mode rof operation of the machine; and

Figs. 4 and 5 respectively are detail views of the perforating dies and. their shafts, showing the adjustability of the dies longitudinally of said shafts.

. Like numerals'refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In theembodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the members of the printing couple are shown at 10 and 11, 10 being a numbering head cylinder of the usual construction with its longitudinally adjustable numbering head carriers 12, and 11 being an impression cylinder of the usual construction carrying grippers 13. At 14 is a feed shelf provided with front gauge stops 15 actuated by the mechanism 16. Associated with the impression cylinder 11 is a second numbering head cylinder 17. l

The members of the printing couple are actuated by intermeshing gears 18 and 19 and the supplemental numbering head cylinder is actuated by a gear 20 enmeshed with the gear 19.

The foregoing mechanisms are those commonly used in an old type of numbering machine, and the detailed construction of said parts is immaterial to the invention.

Adjacent the impression cylinder 11 are two parallel shafts 21 and 22, the lower of which, 21, is driven from the gear 19 by a gear train 23, two gears being used in this train so as tocause the shaft to be turned in a direction opposite to that of the cylinder 11.

The shaft 22 carries a gear 24 enmeshed with a gear 25 upon the shaft 21, said shaft also carrying a gear 25 enmeshed with the last gear of the train 23. The journals 26 for the arbors at opposite ends of the shaft 22 are supported by springs 2'7 so as to permit vertical play of this shaft.

The shaft 21 is provided with a spline 28 and the shaft 22 is provided with a spline 29.

Mounted upon the shaft 21 is one or more circular female dies 30 having die openings 31 adjacent one edge thereof, and a wide plane surface 32 adjacent the other edge thereof. This die is provided with a boss 33 carrying a set screw 34 adapted to prevent movement of the die in relation to the spline 28 so as to firmly secure the die upon the shaft, while at the same time permitting adjustment thereof longitudinally of the shaft. The number of dies upon the shaft is determined by the number of lines of perforations which are to be made in sheets being run through the machine.

Carried by the shaft 22 is a circular male die 35 carrying adjacent one edge thereof die punches 36 co-operating with the punch openings 31 and having a wide plane surface 3'7 adjacent the other upon the plane surface 32 at one side of the punch openings 31. After passing said die, this reach of the tape 39 has a downward trend and passes under a guide roller 4!] beyond the shaft 21 and above a slide 41 or other sheet receiving means along which the sheets move by gravity to a collecting table, not shown. I

Above the guide roller 40 is a second guide roller 42, about which the upper reach of the tape passes from the guide roller 42 toward and into engagement with the plane surface 3'7, thence running to the impression cylinder 11.

The guide rollers 40 and 42 are carried by arms 43 and 44 secured to and adjustable circumferentially of the shaft 45 with a scissor-like movement to take up slack in the tape.

It will be noted that the tape or tapes 39 pass between the sheets fed to the impression cylinder and the makeready of this cylinder, but that said sheets are positioned between the tapes and the female die so as to be held firmly in position in relation to said die and thus avoid any disas to engage a sheet substantially simultaneously with the release of the sheet by the grippers. Said rollers, in co-operation with the tapes strip the sheet from the impression cylinder.

The journals 26 of the shaft 22 are acted upon by adjustment screws 48 to permit accuracy in the setting of the punches 36 in relation to the punch openings 31.

The operation of the herein described machine is substantially as follows:

Sheets of paper having the desired printed matter previously impressed thereon, are successively delivered to the gripper mechanism 13 upon the impression cylinder 11 from the feed shelf 14, the tapes 39 being positioned between the sheets and the makeready of said cylinder. This is possible with a numbering machine wherein the printing surfaces occupy only a small space, and the tapes are so located as to be out of the range of the printing elements.

There will always be at least two numbering heads spaced apart a considerable distance 1ongitudinally of the cylinder 10 and the line of perforations will be located between the impressions of the numbers. The locating of the plane surface 32, closely adjacent the line of punch openings 31, ensures the proper holding of the sheets in relation to the female dies to avoid possible mutilation of these sheets resulting in wastage.

If there is to be only a single line of perforations, only one pair of perforating dies is used. Ordinarily, however, there will be duplicate impressions upon each sheet of paper either "two or four on, thus requiring two pairs of perforating dies spaced longitudinally of their shafts respectively. Since there is a tape co-operating with the female die of each pair of dies'and since these dies and tapes are spaced well apart, adequate support is afforded the sheet and skewing thereof is prevented. If there be only one im pression upon the sheet requiring only one line of perforations, then idler pulleys may be provided on each shaft 21 and 22 to guide the run of the second tape in a manner to ensure the proper control and delivery of the sheet to the collecting shelf.

After the printing of the numbers on each sheet, and as the forward edge of the sheet engages the stripping rollers 4'7, the gripper mechanism 13 is disengaged from the sheet, so that as the tapes 39 pass over said rollers 4'7, they move the sheet from the impression cylinder or D-roll and direct it between the rotary dies 30 and 35. From the time the sheet leaves the impression cylinder, it is positioned beneath the A tapes 39 both when passing about the rollers 4'7 and when passing between the dies 30 and 35.

In this manner the sheet is so positioned and held in relation to the female dies as to ensure a proper formation of the lines of perforations without possibility of the lifting of the sheet as the punches of the male die move upwardly in an are after making the perforations.

The downward trend of the tape 39 when passing from the dies to the guide rollers 40 ensures a continuing conformation of the paper to the perimeter of the female die until the punches 36 are fully disengaged from the paper and at the same time gives the desired downward trend to the sheet to ensure its delivery along the plate 41 to the collecting shelf.

The guide rollers 42 are merely for directing the upper reach of the tapes in their return to the impression cylinder and the provision of the plane surface 3'7 upon the male dies is a mere 1,983,612 matter of convenience" since other guide rollers may be provided to give thedesired direction and position to the return reach of the tapes. The mannerofsupporting the guide rollersAO and 42*permits their relative adjustment to take 48 to secure the desired locating of the" punches 36 verticallyinrelation to the punch openings 31 of theco-opera'tlng female die to ensure the formation of eachperforation and avoid any unnecessary drag of. the punches upon the sheet of paper. I

The angular speed of the rotary perforating dies 30 and 35 isthe same as that of the impression cylinder 11; although thefemale die turnsin a direction 'oppositeto that of said cylinder.

The punching operation is by.- a rolling action of thexcosoperating: dies and accurate setting of the punches'36 avoids elongation of the perforations and possible tearing of the paper'between .said

perforations. i

By using co-operating rotary perforating dies inl the manner herein-describedthe use of a special makeready for the impression cylinder, such asisrequired when the perforating punches act against this .makercady, is avoided. Furthermore, by'the construction of the punches and their relation to the members of the printing couple, it is ,possibletojquickly make, the perforating mechanism inoperative so as to permit the machine tobeused for ordinarynumbering work. i

It is not my intention, to limit the invention to the precise detailsof; construction shown in the accompanying drawings, it being apparent that such may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the: invention.

Having described the invention what I claim as new and desire to haveprotected by Letters Patent, is:----

1. A numbering machine: embodying therein a printing couple consisting of a numbering head cylinder, and animpression cylinder, parallel shafts adjacent the members of said printingcou-- ple, one of said shafts having thereon a circular female perforating die,=and the othershaft havinga circular male perforatingadie co-operating with said female die, sheet receiving means adjae cent said perforating dies, an endless tape passingwabout said impression cylinder and over said female perforating die, and guide rollers for said tapes positioned beyond said perforating dies, whereby a sheet of paper is caused to pass from said dies to said sheet receiving means and is held against said female perforating die during the perforating operation.

2. A numbering machine embodying therein a printing couple consisting of a numbering head cylinder, and an impression cylinder, parallel shafts adjacent the members of said printing couple, one of said shafts having thereon a circular female perforating die, and the other shaft having a circular male perforating die co-operating with said female die, sheet receiving means adjacent said perforating dies, a guide roller between said impression cylinder and said perforating dies and adjacent said impression cylinder, anendless tape passing about said impression cylinder and over said guide roller and. said female perforating die,

wherebythe position of the paper sheet in relation to said tape is reversed in passing from the impressioncylinder to the perforating dies, and guide rollers for said tapes positioned beyond said perforating dies, whereby a sheet of paper is caused to pass from said dies to said sheet receiving means and is held against said female perforating die duringthe perforating operation.

3. A numbering machine embodying therein a printing couple consisting of a numbering head cylinder, and an impression cylinder, parallel shaftsadjacent the members of said printing couple, one of said shafts having thereon a circular female perforating diehaving die openings adjacent one edge of the perimeter thereof and a wide plane surface adjacentthe other edge thereof, and the other shaft having a circular male perforating die co-operating with said female die,

sheet receiving means adjacent said perforating dies, an endless tape passing about said impression cylinder and over the plane surface of said female perforating die, and guide rollers for said tapes positioned beyond said perforating dies, whereby a sheet of paper is caused to pass from said dies to said sheet receiving means and is held against said'female die during the perforating operation.

4. A numbering machine embodying therein a printing couple consisting of a numbering head cylinder, and an impression cylinder, parallel shafts adjacent the members of said printing couple, one of said shafts having thereon a circular female perforating die, and the other shaft having a circular male perforating die co-operating with said female die, co-operating means carried by said diesrespectively and the shaft carrying same, whereby said dies' may be adjusted longitudinally of said shaft and set in their adjusted position, sheet receiving means adjacent said perforatingdies, an endless tape passing about said impression cylinder and over said female perforating die, and guide rollers for said tapes positioned beyondsaid perforating dies, whereby a sheet of paper is caused to pass from said dies to said sheet receiving means and is held against said female perforating die during the perforatprinting couple consisting of a numbering head cylinder, and an impression cylinder, parallel shafts adjacent the members of said printing couple, one of said shafts having thereon a circular female perforating die having die openings adjacent one edge of the perimeter thereof and a wide plane surface adjacent the other edge thereof, and the-other shaft having a circular male perforating die co-operating with said female die, cooperating means carried by said dies respectively and the shaft carrying same, whereby said dies may be adjusted longitudinally of said shaft and set in their adjusted position, sheet receiving means adjacent said perforating dies, an endless tape passing about said impression cylinder and over the plane surface of said female perforating die, and guide rollers for said tapes positioned beyond said perforating dies, whereby a sheet of paper is caused to pass from said dies to said sheet receiving means and is held against said female perforating die during the perforating operation.

6. A numbering machine embodying therein a printing couple consisting of a numbering head cylinder, and an impression cylinder, parallel shafts adjacent the members of said printing couple, one of said shafts having thereon a circular female perforatingdie, and the other shaft having a circular male perforating die co-operating with said female die, sheet receiving means adjacent said perforating dies, an endless tape passing about said impression cylinder and over said female perforating die, a shaft positioned upon the side of said dies opposite to said impression cylinder, a plurality of arms mounted upon said shaft, means whereby said arms may be adjusted circumferentialy of said shaft, and guide rollers carried by said arms respectively, whereby slack in said tapes may be taken up and a sheet of paper is caused to pass from said dies to said sheet receiving means and is held against said female perforating die during the perforating operation.

7. A numbering machine embodying therein a printing couple consisting of a numbering head cylinder, and an impression cylinder, parallel shafts adjacent the members of said printing couple, one of said shafts having thereon a circular female perforating die having die openings adjacent one edge of the perimeter thereof and a wide plane surface adjacent the other edge thereof, and the other shaft having a circular male perforating die co-operating with said female die, co-operating means carried by said dies respectively and the shaft carrying same, whereby said dies may be adjusted longitudinally of said shaft and set in their adjusted position, sheet receiving means adjacent said perforating dies, a guide roller between said impression cylinder and said perforating dies and adjacent said impression cylinder, an endless tape passing about said impression cylinder and over said guide roller and said female perforating die, whereby the position of the paper sheet in relation to said tape is reversed in passing from the impression cylinder to the perforating dies, a shaft positioned upon the side of said dies opposite to said impression cylinder, a plurality of arms mounted upon said shaft, means whereby said arms may be adjusted circumferentially of said shaft, and guide rollers carried by said arms respectively, whereby slack in said tapes may be taken up and a sheet of paper is caused to pass from said dies to said sheet receiving means and is held against said female perforating die during the perforating operation.

8. A numbering machine embodying therein a printing couple consisting of a numbering head cylinder, and an impression cylinder, a gripper mechanism carried thereby, parallel shafts adjacent the members of said printing couple, one of said shafts having thereon a circular female perforating die, and the other shaft having a circular male perforating die co-operating with said female die, sheet receiving means adjacent said perforating dies, 2. guide roller between said impression cylinder and said perforating dies and adjacent said impression cylinder adapted to engage a sheet substantially simultaneously with the release of said gripper mechanism, an endless tape passing about said impression cylinder and over said guide roller and said female perforating die, whereby the position of the paper sheet in relation to said tape is reversed in passing from the impression cylinder to the perforating dies, and guide rollers for said tapes positioned beyond said perforating dies, whereby a sheet of paper is caused to pass from said dies to said sheet receiving means and is held against said female perforating die during the perforating operation.

9. A numbering machine embodying therein a printing couple consisting of a numbering head cylinder, and an impression cylinder, parallel shafts adjacent the members of said printing couple, a spring supported journal for one of said shafts, an adjusting screw operative upon said journal whereby said shaft may be adjusted to- Ward or from said other shaft, a circular male perforating die carried by said adjustable shaft, a circular female perforating die'carried by said other shaft, sheet receiving means adjacent said perforating dies, an endless tape passing about said impression cylinder and over said female perforating die, and guide rollers for said tapes positioned beyond said perforating dies, whereby a sheet of paper is caused to pass from said dies to said sheet receiving means and is held against said female perforating die during the perforating operation.

10. A numbering machine embodying therein a printing couple consisting of a numbering head cylinder, and an impression cylinder, parallel shafts adjacent the members of said printing couple, one'of said shafts having thereon a circular female perforating die, and the other shaft having a circular male perforating die co-operating with said female die, sheet receiving means adjacent said perforating dies, an endless tape passing about said impression cylinder and over said female perforating die, guide rollers for said tapes positioned beyond said perforating dies, whereby a sheet of paper is caused to pass from said dies to said sheet receiving means and is held against said female perforating die during the perforating operation, and a geared connection between said die carrying shafts and between one of said shafts and said impression cylinder, whereby said cylinder and said dies are rotated at the same angular speed.

PETER AITCHISON. 

